My new roommate

The Foreigner's Room

As many of you might know, I'm living in a dorm, were I share a flat with three other students. I've been living there for almost nine months. Since the first day I've meet a handful of quite interesting people, because the room next to mine is – as I call it – the "foreigner's room". The room is reserved by the ÖAD (Österreichischer Austausch Dienst) and due to that it is let to exchange students or students doing an internship.

Thai cooking

My first roommate was a girl from Germany, which I mentioned in one of my posts, and after her a girl from Thailand followed. Her name was Onjira. She was involved in some kind of research project at the University of Technology of Graz and a university in the UK. She's been her for a longer period of time and, to be honest, I grew fond of her, because she's been a really nice person. It's been interesting gaining an in insight into Thai cooking. She gave me some dishes to try and they were very tasty. Although I have to say that I didn't try everything since I don't it meat and even if I did some of the dishes wouldn't be my taste as they included innards. Also fish, which I usually really like, she prepared in a way that wasn't my taste either. Howsoever, she was really one-of-a-kind and I was a bit sad when she left.

The Toothpaste

Only one or two days later a Chinese woman arrived, but I didn't see her very often. She told me she'd be in that room only for a month or so because the room was already reserved for someone else. Well, but then she didn't show up for a couple of weeks and somehow I was concerned something has happened to her. I mean, her toothpaste with the Chinese character was still in the wall-cupboard in the bathroom after all!!!

Someone was having a shower

Monday, June 3, almost midnight: I have quite and exhausting day behind me: Turkish class, job interview and then I helped my girls moving and carry all that stuff their staff on the forth story of their current apartment. However, it was worth the exertion and the sweat since my girls cooked a delicious meal consisting of Persian style chicken and rice and a tasty red wine! When I arrived home it was almost midnight. So, I unlock my door, put my stuff on my bed and go right to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Something's different. The floor is wet. Water sprinkles on the mirror. High humidity. Gosh, someone was having a shower! Is the Chinese woman back again? I open the wall-cupboard. The toothpaste with the Chinese character is gone!!! Other toiletries with Latin letters instead. Right in that very moment the door of the foreigner's room opens and a guy in my age smiled at me. I said "Hey!" – still with the toothbrush and foam in my mouth. I spit it out.

So we had a little chat and soon hit it off. His name's Markus. He said actually it's not, but he calls himself Markus because no one can pronounce and remember his Malaysian name. He told me his real name – can't remember it. What a cool guy. He's from Malaysia. (Soon had to check were exactly that was.) He knows English pretty well. About my age and quite a sporty person. He'll stay seven months. That's cool. I'm really looking forward to getting to know him.